Shopian town hall Park lies in ruins; turned into dumping site

Shopian, 4 July: Despite the commitments of government, the development of Town Hall Park near Sub-district Hospital in Shopian is yet to take off.

According to the locals, the park was initially maintained by the Floriculture Department and the department had spent decent money for its development but the meddling of Municipal Committee (MC) Shopian reduced it into a dumping site and car parking site.

They added that it was the only park in centre of Shopian town which is now of no use because of its pathetic condition and the concerned authorities are being indifferent towards its development.

One of the residents of Shopian district Dilpazeer Ahmad Dar said, “The park would have been beneficial for patients as the district hospital is located in its close proximity.”

“Municipal Committee Shopian is responsible for its degradation which has literally turned it into a dumping site,” he added.

Locals said that despite holding a series of protests against the Municipal Committee for its interference and degradation of the park, their plights are not being heard by the concerned authorities.

When contacted Executive Officer Municipal Committee Shopian, Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar, said, “We are trying our best for the up-gradation of the said park and an estimate of 36 Lac rupees is to be spent for the purpose.”

“We are going to install flower beds in this park very soon,” he said adding that it totally depends on the people here as whether they want the land to be constructed as a parking site or a park.